About this design
This t-shirt design admires the legendary Sir Francis Drake.
Born in Devon, Uk in early 1540, Francis Drake went on to become Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy and was second in command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Before this though, Drake was chosen as the leader of an expedition intended to pass around South America through the Strait of Magellan and to explore the coast that lay beyond. The expedition was backed by the Queen herself. He had official approval to benefit himself and the queen, as well as to cause the maximum damage to the Spaniards.
He certainly succeeded at this, He seized provisions at Valparaíso, attacked passing Spanish merchantmen, and captured two very rich prizes that were carrying bars of gold and silver, minted Spanish coinage, precious stones, and pearls.
The Spanish were taken by surprise but thought that Drake, like all other captains of the time would return to England the same way he had come, so waited to attack him on his return - but Drake had other idea's and decided to keep sailing, eventually he sighted Asia and continued on until he reached home, becoming the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.
On September 26, 1580, Francis Drake took his ship into Plymouth Harbour. She was laden with treasure and spices, and Drake's fortune was permanently made. Despite Spanish protests about his piratical conduct while in their imperial waters, Queen Elizabeth herself went aboard the Golden Hind , which was lying at Deptford in the Thames estuary, and personally bestowed knighthood on him.
Loved by the English, but feared by the Spanish - he was given the nickname "El Draque" - "The Dragon" in Spanish. I have used this in my design with his ship the Golden Hind (previously called the Pelican) in the crest and a portrait of Drake on a gold coin, representing the fortune he made for himself and England.